Boniva

[Raleigh59]

has anyone cut the 30 day Boniva in half or quarters to take it every two weeks or weekly ? Am I the only one scared of a 30 day tablet?

[Met00]

I really wouldn't risk cutting it in half as it's likely to have a coating to help swallow it, so where you cut it won't be coated, putting your oesophagus at risk. There are alternative daily and weekly ones a available which you could ask your doctor about.

[Raleigh59 in reply to Met00]

yes I am just learning that both esophagus and stomach are at risk from cutting any osteoporosis medicine in half,

which I did do with fosamax because otherwise I couldn’t take it at all because half gave me half the stomach ache so I thought that enabled me to take it.

The options for medicine are much worse than I previously understood. I feel like I am damned if I take the medicine and damned if I don’t.

[Met00 in reply to Raleigh59]

There's an effervescent version you could ask about. I don't think there'd be a problem having half dose of that. Or an annual infusion, which bypasses the digestive system.

[Raleigh59 in reply to Met00]

I think the risks of having poor wound healing or bone healing is the largest risk of all the osteoporosis choices. I just am at the point of not knowing what to do. The daily choices of pills or shots though enable me to quit anytime which I need to have the ability because of side effects or other injuries

[Raleigh59 in reply to Met00]

I now see the effervescent version is sold at the least for $221 per month , insurance doesn’t cover it here.

[Met00 in reply to Raleigh59]

Oh dear, that's very disappointing. We're so lucky with our NHS!

[Raleigh59 in reply to Raleigh59]

I can ask if my dr will prescribe it or if it’s covered by my insurance but I don’t think it is bc my $55 one is not

[ORdogmom in reply to Raleigh59]

make sure you check the sites like Good Rx to see if they can find it for you cheaper

[Raleigh59 in reply to ORdogmom]

I definitely checked good rx . $221 was the cheapest at Walmart

[Met00]

The effervescent tablets are once a week, dissolve one in half a glass of water. They're called Binosto in the UK.

[Kfrad]

I take oral generic boniva monthly which is expensive with my insurance. I typically shop around using different discount prescription sites such as GoodRx.com, Singlecare.com, and many more other sites for considerable savings. Maybe the effervescent tablets could be found elsewhere for a lower price.

[Raleigh59 in reply to Kfrad]

where do you live? I was given one tablet with my insurance at the pharmacy for 30 days and I am too scared to take 30 days of medicine . I only want daily. The one month tablet was free with my insurance but the effervescent is $225 per month at the least.

[Kfrad in reply to Raleigh59]

I live in Pennsylvania. I wasn't even aware that there was an effervescent option. I'm not having any problem taking the once a month treatment.

[Raleigh59 in reply to Kfrad]

why did you not do fosamax or actonel ? And how much do you pay for Boniva?

[Kfrad]

My doctor suggested I take actonel or boniva. I had taken actonel several years ago. I thought I could get the ibandronate (Boniva) cheaper. I pay anywhere from $20 to $27 for 3 tablets (90 day supply) depending on the pharmacy I use.

[Raleigh59 in reply to Kfrad]

I am scared of side effects from a 30 day tablet. I cut it into quarters and thought I would take it weekly but now my pharmacist said I can’t do that bc of possible heartburn or ulcer in stomach

[Kfrad in reply to Raleigh59]

That's correct...The prescribing information cautions against splitting or chewing the tablets.

[bellybuddie in reply to Kfrad]

Kfrad, may I ask the reason behind your doctor's choice Actonel or Boniva? I know reclast is very strong and last very long. Among fosamax, actonel and boniva,, do actonel or Boniva has advantages over fosamax? Thank you!

[Kfrad in reply to bellybuddie]

I took Actonel in the past and tolerated it ok. The ibandronate (Boniva) was a little bit cheaper. There's slightly more drug interactions that can happen with Fosamax but its action is similar to Actonel and Boniva. I don't recall why the doctor did not recommend Fosamax or if she even mentioned it.

[bellybuddie in reply to Kfrad]

Thank you Kfrad, for your kind reply!

[Raleigh59]

well I split the fosamax not knowing about that and I had half the stomach ache which enabled me to take it versus not taking it

[yogalibrarian]

Is there any scientific evidence (clinical trial) that it would be effective -- or safe -- to do that?

The "delivery mechanism" (the way the med is formulated) can be critical. And when you start splitting pills you are getting an inconsistent dosage (you probably can't cut it exactly in half).

Many meds have several different delivery options -- pills, gummies, infusions, nasal spray, etc. Talk to your healthcare provider.

Read the directions carefully and follow them carefully. Some of the side effects are known to come from failing to follow the instructions carefully.

One thing to always keep in the back of your mind is that the consequences of a fracture (life-altering or life-ending) are far worse that any side effects you might encounter.

[Raleigh59 in reply to yogalibrarian]

do you have osteoporosis?

[yogalibrarian in reply to Raleigh59]

Most of what I know comes from 10+ years doing osteoporosis education and 30+ years as a librarian. (And my leisure reading is Endocrinology Today.)

But I also had a proactive PCP who ordered the first DXA when I went thru menopause and prescribed HT. (And after HT -- while I was still in the osteopenia range I did a few years of fosamax with no ill effects.)

My hips have been in the osteopenia range for many years, although the t-score has declined a bit. The spine has just crossed into the osteoporosis zone in the last year or so.

[Raleigh59 in reply to yogalibrarian]

what are your supplements? And what state do you live in ?

[yogalibrarian in reply to Raleigh59]

I don't take many supplements. I try to get the nutrients I need from food and only use supplements to make up the gap between the food and the RDAs.

I live in an area with access to a lot of food choices -- farmer's markets, CSAs, and good grocery stores (not a food desert or food swamp). (Maine) And I love to cook.

I do take vitamin D because I try to avoid unprotected sun exposure -- and my blood levels were low a couple of years ago. (I'm now in a clinical trial that prescribes it.)

I take B3 based on a prescription from my dermatologist.

[Raleigh59 in reply to yogalibrarian]

yes

I basically am given two choices from my insurance: Boniva and fosamax . I thought I didn’t like fosamax but turns out its way better than Boniva for me

[BlueJk]

I take Boniva and have not experienced any problems with the 30 day pill. Boniva must be taken whole, not divided and not chewed. In fact none of the bisphosphonates including Fosamax should not be divided. I declined Prolia because once you’re on it, you're on it for life because of the high fracture risk if it’s discontinued. You can take a “medication vacation” from Boniva in a few years if your bone density improves. It’s important to take Boniva on an empty stomach with a full glass of water and remain upright for one hour without eating or drinking anything other than water for the next hour. I’m in the habit of researching things to death and decided this was the best plan for me.

Hope this helps.

[Raleigh59 in reply to BlueJk]

ok can you tell me why you chose it . I might be choosing it too.

[Raleigh59 in reply to BlueJk]

I read Boniva helps the spine more than it helps the femurs .